"Pet-friendly" can mean almost anything. At one café it means a shaded garden, a water bowl at every table and staff who crouch down to say hello. At another it means nobody will stop you bringing a dog to the one table by the car park. Both can honestly use the label, and your dog will have a very different afternoon at each.

So the label is where your checking starts. A two-minute call and a look at the floor do the rest.

Places we list

Our list is still small, and we would sooner show a few places we can describe than a long list we can't.

Been somewhere that welcomed your dog, or found that one of ours has changed its rules? Please tell us, so the next person gets the real picture.

Call before you go

Ask where dogs can sit, whether it's shaded, and how busy it is at your time.

I'd like to bring my dog, a medium-sized, well-behaved Indie. Where can dogs sit, is it shaded, and is it usually busy at the time we're planning to come?

Asking about busy times is the part people forget. A place that's lovely at 4 pm on a Tuesday can be too crowded at 1 pm on a Sunday, for your dog and for everyone else.

Listen for where dogs are allowed. Many places that welcome dogs only allow them outside, and an outdoor table in April or May can be miserable for a dog even in the shade. In the monsoon, an open terrace can turn into a puddle.

When you get there

  1. Touch the ground where your dog will lie with the back of your hand. If you can't comfortably keep it there for a few seconds, it's too hot for paws. Stone and tile get very hot.
  2. Look for shade that will last, not just shade that's there when you arrive.
  3. Pick a table at the edge, not in the walkway, so your dog isn't stepped around by every waiter.

What to carry

Keeping places dog-friendly

It only takes a few bad experiences for a café to quietly drop its dog policy.

  • Keep your dog on a short leash and close to your table.
  • Don't let them greet other diners unless they're invited.
  • If your dog is barking, restless or clearly unhappy, leave early. It's kinder than pushing through, and staff notice owners who read their dogs well.
  • Clean up, always.

Common questions

Quick answers to what people ask most.

Are dogs allowed inside restaurants in India?

Usually only in outdoor seating. There's no single rule, so each place sets its own. Ask on the phone exactly where dogs can sit.

How do I know if the floor is too hot for my dog?

Press the back of your hand to it. If you can't hold it there comfortably for a few seconds, it will burn paws.

Is it okay to take a puppy to a café?

Only once your puppy has finished their vaccinations. Until then, avoid crowded public places where lots of other dogs go.